The date is not discussed per se, but I have heard estimates of "early 2007". That sounds, at first, like a cop out but there is much to consider. Does the Latin Missal use the one year Pian Missal or the new three-year N.O. Missal? Is a compromise to be made on the Missal (I saw one source predicting a Benedictine Missal with a compromise containing some newer saints). That is where we are now. The ultimate outcome appears as if it is settled.
Is this a "for sure" and will not be left up to the Bishops????
An early release of this whole process had Cardinal Arinze defending the premise of "if 100 Catholics demand a Tridentine Mass, then it should be offered." I had heard it had been whittled down to 30 which is the number in these reports. This means, as the comments section of Rorate Caeli points out, that if SSPX parishioners "infiltrate" the local N.O. Church, they can demand the Tridentine Mass and get it. That is not as insidious as it sounds. Perhaps that is what Benedict is trying to accomplish, in fact. Also, there is much written about the role of Archbishop Burke and his role in the Institute of Christ the King. When they were first invited into the U.S., the argument was made that the Indult granted by Pope John Paul II allowed only that the Mass be said in Latin and that the form of the sacraments be done in the N.O. fashion. As Archbishop Burke is a genius canonist, he showed that this was hogwash and the ICK has the full range of Tridentine sacraments.
In sum, people are no longer arguing IF this will get done. They are discussing WHAT it will look like. It is the "matter of factness" of this by Fr. Zuhlsdorf that astounds me. There may be a vicious counterattack, but from whence will it come? From Europe where nobody goes to Mass? From America where the census is falling by the minute. Add to that the fact that Benedict has just exhorted more and more that Chant and Latin are necessary in seminaries. I think you can see how he is laying the overall groundwork brick by brick.
>>I think you can see how he is laying the overall groundwork brick by brick.<<
God Bless our wonderful Pope! May he live a long and healthy life.
Our very young Pastor is on the rotation to celebrate the TLM at our indult parish downtown. If we have a Universal Indult, we will have a TLM immediately! Our parish is expanding and has around 800 families now. If we add the SSPXers in the immediate area, we will be busting at the seams!!!! God be praised!
And you know, we have six masses on Sunday. I always wondered why my pastor elected to put an 8:30pm instead of filling the 3:30 spot when he added the extra mass. 1:30 would be a perfect time for a High Holy Mass! The next one isn't until 6:30!
In my fevered imagination, Pope Benedict will announce this at his Urbi et Orbi on Christmas Day with thousands upon thousands at Piazza San Pietro. "Dear Brothers and Sisters, I release the Old Mass."